Wine o'Clock has recently opened in what used to be the Angolo di Zepter. It's clearly a wine bar because you see boxes and racks of bottles behind the windows. We like a glass of wine, so were pretty excited to discover a new place in Monte Carlo, only a few minutes walk from MaBoum Manor.
We went on a Friday evening and it was buzzing with so many British voices we felt like we were back in Pimlico. Our waitress was very friendly and explained how everything works. Mr MaBoum was a little surprised. Don't you just sit down and the waiter comes to your table to take your order? No. You get a card with a chip in it that holds 50 euros virtual cash. You go to a cabinet containing about 20 bottles of wine and 2 slots for the cards. Push the card in, press one button for a taster, a second button for a small glass, a third button for a large glass. At the end of your evening, you take your card to the till and they work out how much you've consumed. Mrs MaBoum's face was a picture of confusion.
You see we're used to the sort of wine bar where a knowledgable waiter visits your table, pours a little wine for you to taste, and maybe explains the bouquet and the flavours. A relaxed, refined way to enjoy a glass at the end of the week. We thought that when we left London, we'd left behind all that queuing up and being hurried along by people desperate to get the next drink in. A self-service wine bar in Monte Carlo is about as inconceivable as silver service in a fish and chip shop.
Nonetheless, the wine we tried was good, and the atmosphere was warm and lively. The nibbles the waitress brought to our table were tasty, and the menu looked appetising. It's open Monday to Saturday, from 9am to midnight, but for your first visit, go when it's less busy.
